2018 -- H 7104

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

     Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Tanzi, Ruggiero, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2018

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-13 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Transportation"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-13-2.1. Duties of the department - Rhode Works project.

     (a) It shall be the responsibility of the department to identify the businesses affected and

the specific impact of Rhode Works projects on small businesses and to deliver and communicate

this information to the department of commerce. The department shall identify the traffic flow to

Rhode Island small business commercial areas as it relates to road and bridge closings due to

Rhode Works projects, and the realignment of the Newport Bridge ramps, identify road and

bridge closings, parking restrictions and alterations in traffic patterns to accommodate road and

bridge repairs, including proposed dates of work, road closures and re-routing of any traffic and

parking patterns.

     (b) During construction season (April through October), the department shall share the

information collected in subsection (a) of this section with the commerce corporation to allow at

least two (2) months for the commerce corporation to assist small businesses affected by Rhode

Works projects in the affected communities and neighborhoods as set forth in subsection

(c) of this section. During emergencies, the department will contact the commerce corporation in

order to coordinate a plan of action in the affected area. The department will meet with the

commerce corporation on a regular basis in order to review upcoming projects and coordinate a

plan of action for the affected businesses.

     (c) The commerce corporation shall provide those affected businesses in the construction

areas with a list of available resources, programs and/or services that if utilized might minimize

the economic and financial impact upon those businesses during road and bridge construction,

including, but not limited to, contact by the commerce corporation to affected businesses and if

desired, meeting with affected businesses during construction.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION

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     This act would require the department of transportation to identify the impact of Rhode

Works projects, and the realignment of the Newport Bridge ramps on Rhode Island small

business commercial areas, particularly during construction season (April through October) and

provide the commerce corporation with that information to allow the commerce corporation

sufficient time to provide the affected businesses with information on available resources,

programs and services that if utilized might minimize the economic and financial impact.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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